Gang switch



H. C. HALL GANG SWITCH Oct. 24, 1939.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. l, 1936 ,11/\\ ATTORNEY INVENTOR Harry Hall 3 Y v n.

oct. 24, 1939.

H. c. HALL GANG SWITCH Filed Aug. l, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Harry Hail ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1939 PATENT oFFlct;

GANG SWITCH Harry C'. Hall, Indianapolis, Ind., assignr to P. R. Mallory & Oo., Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application August l, 1936, Serial No.93,809

12 Claims.

This invention relates to electric switches such as are used for changing circuit connections in yradio sets and other electrical apparatus.

The switch of the present invention is of the l typeillustrated in U. S. Patent No. 1,975,247 issued October 2, 1934 to Paul G. Andres and Arthur Hall.

An object of the invention is to provide a switch of improved mechanical structure which is readily 10 adaptable to a great'variety of electrical circuits. Another object of the invention is to provide a switch capable of use as a coil changing switch in long and short wave radio receiving sets.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent u from the following description and accompanying drawings taken in connection with the appended claims.

The invention comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, arrangement 9 of parts, and methods of manufacture and operation referred to above or which will be brought out and exemplified' in the disclosure hereinafter set forth, including the illustrations in the drawings. For a fuller understanding of the nature and u objects of the invention as well as for specific fulfillment thereof, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal section through a 3 gang'type switch arranged according to the present invention;

Figure 24s a section on the line 2--2 of Figure l Figure 3 is a detail View, partly in section, showing features. of the control shaft and indexing means;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure l; Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a section on the line 'l-l of Figure 1; 40 Figure 8 is a detail view illustrating parts of a single rotor-stator assembly;

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 5 and Figure 10 is a detail view illustrating the method of securing certain of the stator contacts to the base.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein, it is contemplated that conlm siderable variation may be made in the method of procedure and the construction of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names 55' for convenience, but they are intended to'be as (Cl. D-15) generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

While gang type switches have beenl used heretofore the present invention provides improvements in construction which not only provide a 5 more rigid, better aligned switch assembly but also enable a larger variety of circuit combinations to be obtained with a switch unit of a given size.

Referring to the drawings, the switch illustrated 10 comprises an index plate 20 and a plurality of stator discs 2 I, 22, 23 and 24 held in spaced aligned relationship by a pair of threaded rods and 26 provided with sleeves 2l and 28 between each pair of discs for spacing them apart. 15

The control shaft 29 extends through the switch assembly. Shaft 29 is formed of two parts comprising a portion of circular cross-section 30 and a flat portion 3l secured together between index plate 20 and the rst stator disc 2 l, Rotors 20 4I, 42, 43 and 44 are mounted to turn in stator discs 2|, 22, 23 and 24, respectively, under control of shaft 29.

An index arm 32 and a stop arm 33 are both mounted on shaft 29 to co-operate with index 25 plate 20. The index and stop arms are secured 'to the shaft 29 and shaft sections 30 and 3| are joined together in the following manner: Shaft 30, which is of circular cross section, is provided with an end 36 of slightly reduced diameter (as 30 seen most clearly in Figure 1) and a slot 34 is cut in the end of shaft 3G as indicated, slot 34 being adapted to receive the end of fiat shaft 3l. Shaft 3l is provided with a groove 35 on. each side near its end. S-shaped piece of spring metal having a central slot of such shape to receive the reduced end portion 36 of shaft 30 and the end of shaft 3l is then slipped over the end portion 36 so as to rest on the shoulderbetween portion 36 and the body of 40 shaft 3l). Stop arm 33, comprising a piece of sheet metal stock also provided with a slot of the same shape, is slipped over the end 36 on top of index arm 32. Flat shaft 3l is then inserted in slot 34 and the central slots in arms 32 and 33. 45 It will be noted that when the shafts are thus assembled the end of portion 36 will partially cover groove 35 in shaft 3|. The end of portion 36 is then deformed into groove 35 from both sides and is also spread out over the top surface of arm 50 33 thereby firmly uniting all of the parts into a lrigid aligned assembly.

Index plate 20 is provided with a circular series of raised convex faces 31 stamped up from its surface to provide indexing projections. A pair Index arm 32 which comprises an 35 of stop lugs 38 are also stamped up from index plate 20 at positions determined by the requirements of the circuit in which the switch is used. Index arm 32 is provided at its two opposite ends with a pair of rollers 39 having pintles 40 which rest in recesses in the ends of arm 32 opposite the indexing portion of index plate 29. Stop arm 33 has its end bent at right angles toward plate 20 so as to engage stop lugs 33 on index plate 20.

Shaft 30 is mounted to turn in bushing 45 held in a central opening in index plate 20 by flanges 46 and 4`| on the bushing. Index arm 32 is held under its spring tension against the index plate 20 by a split washer |46 fitted into a groove |41 cut in shaft 30.

The switch illustrated in the drawings has been shown with four different rotor-stator combinations for purposes of illustration. It will be obvious, however, that the combinations may be varied as desired and that various other combinations are possible using the parts illustrated. It is also obvious that switches may be made according to the present invention having only one rotor-stator assembly or having any number of such assemblies greater than one on the same shaft within the limits of practical operation. It will likewise be obvious that many of the parts are standard and interchangeable and can be used in a wide variety of combinations. The combinations illustrated may be taken as examples of some of the more typical combinations required in radio receiving sets and the like. 1

The first rotor-stator assembly or switch section, comprising stator 2| and rotor 4|, is illustrated in section in Figure 1 and one face view is illustrated in Figure 4. Details of the formation of the rotor and stator for this section, as well as for other sections, are illustrated in Figure 8.

Stator 2| comprises a disc stamped from a sheet of insulating material such as laminated Bakelite or other resin impregnated sheet material or molded resin material or ceramic material. The stator disc is of generally circular shape but is provided with a pair of ears at the two opposite sides in which are punched a pair of holes 48 for receiving the rods 25 and 26. Disc 2| is also provided with a large central circular opening 49 for receiving the rotor 4|. Surrounding opening 49 are a series of elongated arcuate openings or slots 50. The purpose of these slots is to reduce the amount of Bakelite between the conductive switch parts so as to provide an air dielectric where possible and thereby improve the high frequncy characteristics of the switch. The disc 2| is also punched with a circular series of small rectangular holes 5| arranged in pairs for mounting the stator contacts.

The stator contacts 52 are secured to the stator disc 2| in the manner indicated in Figure 10. Each contact 52 is formed from a strip of sheet metal stamped and bent into the doubled form shown in Figure 10. The finished contact thereby comprises a double portion 53 for a soldering lug, portion 53 having a hole 54 through which the end of the connecting wire may he inserted if desired before soldering. The central portion of each contact 52 comprises a generally rectangular mounting portion 55 in one arm of the contact, the other arm of the contact resting against its surface. Portion 55 has a pair of opposed notches |55. The arms of the doubled contact terminate in a -pair of contact fingers 56 and 51 provided with opposing convex contact faces 58 and 59, respectively, near their ends.

Each contact l2 is secured to the stator disc 2| by a U-shaped anchoring member 6|! having arms 6| and 62. In mounting the contact arms 6I and 62 are inserted in holes 5| in the stator disc so that the mid-portion of member 60 rests against the opposite face of the stator disc from that on which contact 52 is to be mounted. Arms 6| and 62 then project up through holes 5| and llt into notches |55 in contact 52. 'I'he arms arethen bent over the top face of portion 55 of the contact and the mid-portion of linger 51 thereby anchor ing the contact firmly against the face of disc 2l.

Rotor 4| comprises a pair of discs 4|a and 4| b of the form shown in Figure 8. The rotor discs are preferably formed of molded insulating material such as ceramic, isolantite, porcelain, molded Bakelite or other resinmaterials, resin-impregnated fibre, or the like. Rotor discs 4|a and IIb are provided with central openings 63 for receiving fiat shaft 3|. The openings 63 are of the same general shape as shaft 3| and provide sutil- `cient clearance with the shaft to allow it to be inserted and removed from the rotor by moving axially but fit the shaft sufficiently close to prevent excessive play. Openings 63 are also arched away from the shaft on one side, as indicated, to facilitate assembly. It will thus be noted that the rotor discs 4| can be turned under control of shaft 3| but can readily be assembled with the shaft or removed therefrom by axial displacement. The outer surface of discs 4|a and 4|b are each formed with radial ridges 64 defining individual contact positions. A hole 65 is provided in each position for riveting the contact shoes to the rotor. The diameter of the bodies of discs 4|a and 4|b is only slightly less than the diameter of opening 49 in stator disc 2| and each rotor disc is provided with a flange 66 of slightly larger diameter than opening 49, this flange resting against the face of disc 2| when the section is assembled. Upon assembly the two rotor discs are brought together on opposite sides of stator 2| and positioned in opening 49 with their adjacent faces in contact and the holes 65 in alignment. 'Ihe two rotor discs and the rotor contacts are then riveted together by rivets 61 thereby permanently securing the rotor for rotation in the stator disc. Discs 4|a and 4|b also have a series of recesses 68 on their inner faces opposite the individual contact positions for a purpose to be described later.

The rotor contact shoes comprise stampings of sheet metal provided with riveting portions having radial edges of such dimensions as to fit into individual contact positions between ridges 64 on the rotor discs. The size and shape of the rotor contacts will depend on the circuit conditions to be fulfilled and the number of contact positions each contact must occupy. In general. each contact will comprise one or more tapered portions having edges of such dimensions as to fit into the individual contact positions between ridges 64 on the rotor discs. The outer edges of the contacts normally lie on the arcs of circles having their common center at the center of the rotor. Thus, for a single-position rotor contact the contact shoe may be substantially the shape of a sector of a circle (see contact 12 in Figure 5). For contacts which cover two or more positions at least two riveting portions will normally be provided. On such contacts one portion of the outer edge may, if desired, be of lesser radius than another portion thereof so as to provide selective cooperation with certain stator contacts (see contact 'l0 in Figure 4). The edges of the contact shoes slide between contact faces 58 and 59 of stator contacts 52 so as to make contact therewith.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 4 it will be noted that rotor contact 69 occupies two adjacent positions on the rotor and that when the rotor is in the position shown the rotor contact 69 electrically connects stator contacts 52 and 52a. Rotor contact 10 occupies three rotor positions and it will be noted that its outer edge is one-third of one radius and two-thirds of a lesser radius. Stator contact 52b has longer contact fingers 56h and 51h than those on the other contacts and is thereby adapted to make contact with the portion of rotor contact 10 of reduced radius. Contacts 52c and 52d can only make contact with the portion of longer radius. Thus, with the rotor in the position shown contacts 52h and 52d are electrically connected by contact 10. If the rotor is rotated for one step in a clockwise manner (as seen in Figure 4) contacts 51h and 51c will be connected. Rotation for one step from the position shown in a counter-clockwise direction will open both circuits.

Referring to Figures 1 and 5 the rotor contact 12 occupies a single rotor position on one face of the rotor and rotor contact 13 occupies the corresponding position on the opposite face, the two contacts 12 and 13 being connected through the rotor by rivet 14. The stator contacts 52e and 52j, which make contact with rotor contacts 12 and 13, respectively, in the position illustrated, are mounted on opposite faces of stator base 22 with a single anchoring member 60. They are insulated from each other, however, by a rectangular sheet of insulating sheet material 15 interposed between arms 6l and 62 and stator contact 52e.

This is illustrated in detail in Figure 9. Sheet 15 may preferably have notched edges to receive arms 6I and 62 and the shank of contact 52e. Thus rotor contacts 12 and 13 and rivet 14 serve to connect stator contacts 52e and 52 ,f when the rotor is in the position illustrated.

Rotor 42 also carries contacts 16 and 11, contact 16 occupying three rotor positions and having an outer edge of reduced radius and contact 11 occupying three rotor positions on the opposite face of the rotor,`one of the positions being common to contacts 16 and 11. In this instance it is desired that contact 16 connect stator contacts 52g and 52h both on one face of the stator and that rotor contact 11 connect stator contacts 522' and 521i on the opposite face. In order to keep rotor contacts 16 and 11 electrically insulated from each other a pair of short rivets 18 and 'it are used for the common position having their heads disposed in recesses68 in the rotor discs tia and 42h. The other rivets B0 and 8l for contacts 16 and 11, respectively, are full length rivets similar to rivet 61.

In Figures l, 6 and 7 are illustrated another arrangement of switch section. One face of the rotor, shown in Figure 6, carries a single position contact shoe 82 and a second contact shoe 83 which occupies all positions not occupied by contact B2. The opposite face of the rotor carries a contact shoe 84 (Fig. 7) forming a complete ring so as to occupy all positions. Contact 82 is connected to contact 84 through rivet 85. It is possible with this arrangement selectively to connect any one of stator contacts 52k, 521, and

V 52m to stator 'contact 52u, the latter contact making contact with ring 84 and the remainder making selective contact with single position rotor shoe 82. With contact 52k connected'to contact 5211, as illustrated, the remaining stator` contacts are connected together by rotor contact shoe 83, which may be grounded to the shaft 3|, if desired.

While each rotor contact is shown riveted to the rotor at the end positions of the contact face it is not always necessary that the rivets be in these positions since the stiffness of the rotor contacts is normally sufficient to allow the rivets to be placed at intermediate positions.

With the rotor-stator arrangement provided by the present invention each rotor is definitely centered and located in its individual stator and does not depend on the shaft for support. In fact, the shaft is held centered by the rotors, each of which is, in effect a bearing for the shaft.

It will be obvious that a wide variety of circuit combinations are possible with the switch sections shown and that other contact combinalftions may readily be assembled from the standard parts illustrated and modifications thereof.

While the present invention, as to its objects and advantages, has been described herein as carried out in specific embodiments thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereby but it is ln-v tended to cover the invention broadly within the spirit and scope of the4 appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switch comprising a stator disc of insulating material having an opening therein and,a rotor disposed in said opening, said rotor comprising a pair of discs secured together face to face, each of said discs having a flange on its peripheral edge, said flanges being located on opposite sides of said stator disc and extending out over the edge of said stator opening,.

ing rotor and stator contacts on said rotor and stator respectively.

3. An electric switch comprising a stator disc of insulating material, an opening therein and la rotor mounted so as to turn in said opening,

said rotor comprising a pair of circular discs, means securing said discs together face-to-face in said opening, each of said discs having a flange resting against one face of said stator disc, and co-operating rotor and stator contacts on said rotor and stator, respectively.

4. An electric switch comprising a stator disc of insulating material having an opening therein, a rotor disc arranged so as to turn in said opening, a stator contact on said stator and a cooperating contact on said rotor, and means securing said rotor contact to said rotor disc, said means terminating within said rotor disc.

5. An electric switch comprising a stator disc of insulating material having an opening therein, a rotor disc arranged so as to turn in said opening, a stator contact on said stator and a cooperating rotor contact on said rotor, and means securing said rotor contact to said rotor disc, said means comprising a rivet having its head terminating within said rotor disc.

6. An electric switch comprising a stator disc o! insulating material having an opening therein, a rotor disc arranged so as to turn in said opening, stator contacts on opposite laces of said stator,

'rotor contacts on opposite faces of said rotor and aligned riveting means individual to said rotor contacts, each said means terminating within said rotor so as to allow a space between said means and retain said rotor contacts in- V sulated from each other.

7. An electric switch comprising a stator disc of insulating material having an opening therein and a rotor arranged to turn in said opening, said rotor comprising a pair of discs of insulating material, means securing said discs together face-to-iace, stator contact on said stator, rotor contacts on said rotor, and individual means securingsaid rotor contacts to said rotor discs each said means passing only through the disc to which its respective contact is secured.

8. An electric switch rotor-stator combination comprising a stator disc of insulating material, a rotor disc of insulating material arranged so as to turn in said stator disc, and cooperating insulating flanges on said rotor disc arranged to hold said pair or discs in assembled relation.

9. An electric switch rotor-stator combination comprising a stator disc of insulating material, a rotor disc of insulating material arranged so as to turn in said stator disc, and continuous cooperating insulating anges on said rotor disc arranged to hold said pair of discs in 'assembled relation.

10. An electric switch comprising a stator disc of insulating material having an opening therdn. a rotor arranged so as to turn in said opening, said rotor comprising a pair of discs of insulating material secured together face to face. a stator contact on said stator and a cooperating contact on said rotor, and means securing said rotor contact to one of said rotor discs, said means terminating in the region between said rotor discs.

11. An electric switch comprisng a stator disc oi' insulating material having an opening therein, a rotor arranged so as to turn in said opening, said rotor comprising a pair of discs of insulating material secured together face to face, a stator contact on said stator and a cooperating rotor contact on said rotor, and means securing said rotor contact to one of said rotor discs, said means comprising a rivet having its head terminating between said rotor discs.

12` An electric switch comprising a stator disc of insulating material having an opening therein, a rotor arranged so as to turn in said opening, said rotor comprising a paircf rotor discs of insulating material secured together face to face, stator contacts on opposite faces of said stator, rotor contacts on opposite faces of said rotor and aligned riveting means individual to said rotor contacts, each of said means terminating between said rotor discs so as to allow a space between said means and retain said rotor contacts insulated from each other.

HARRY C. HALL. 

